Paramount Fine Foods is a fast growing chain of restaurants serving up middle eastern cuisine throughout Canada. This year, 29 new locations are planned, which will double their footprint. Existing locations range from food courts, to hospitals, to stand alone restaurants, including an outlet at Pearson airport. I was invited to the grand opening of one of these new locations at Shops on Don Mills. The evening was filled with music, authentic middle eastern cuisine and plenty of star power.

The Don Mills location of Paramount Fine Foods was modern with dark wood, leather and pendant lights. A table filled with samples of Paramount’s menu was set up for guests to enjoy. Servers also circulated with platters of mini manakeesh, straight from the oven. The bread was soft and chewy, topped with spices, olive oil and cheeses. Other samples included creamy hummus and tabbouleh salad. There was also a platter of grilled shrimp, that can usually be ordered on skewers as a main dish or part of a family platter. The favourite side I tried was the perfectly roasted potatoes.

Paramount served Tabliyeh style (on a wooden board) shawarma, filled with chicken, beef or sujuk (spiced minced beef sausage) that were quickly snapped up. I really liked the thin saj bread that was used and how the shawarma was grilled crispy before being served. Both the chicken and beef fillings were well seasoned and had a flavourful tahini and garlic sauce. Ingredients were fresh and colourful.

In addition to food, the other star of the night was special guest, Toronto Raptor Jonas Valančiūnas. Guests had the opportunity to take photos and get autographs with the star before he sat down with Paramount CEO and franchise owners to enjoy a meal.

As Paramount Fine Foods continues to grow, I’m looking forward to each new venture. Just announced in April, Paramount has partnered with app Just-Eat to offer home delivery.